Awhile ago we had a
long discussion about donations. Basically, we need your help IF you're able to help.
"Why should you pay for our marketing? Simple. IF you like the demo and feel that the game has potential, and want to do your part to ensure that ITS survives and is around to make more games... You see where I'm going with this? Ad campaigns are important. More ads - more sales. Now, if you are absolutely, positively sure that AoD will sell a lot [for an indie game], then don't donate. We wouldn't want you to go against your beliefs. If, however, you feel that there is a small chance - something like 75-85% - that AoD will sell only 2,000-3,000 copies, and not buying that pizza tonight will increase our survival chances, then we won't say no to that.
In the end, whether or not you'll consider donating after being entertained by the demo is your business. Not everyone has spending money, not everyone digs the idea, etc. So, if you don't want to, that's cool with us, so feel free to post your honest opinion.
The reason I've decided to ask for the community's help though is because indie developers don't have the financial resources of mainstream companies. We need your support to fight for our share of the market. If you want to be a part of it, if you want to say that your 10 bucks or whatever you can afford made a difference, if you want to see our ad next to fucking Halo in a magazine, then you know what to do.
Basically, it comes to community supporting games they want to play [and influencing development] vs publishers supporting games they think will sell the most [and influencing development]. An interesting social experiment and a new model that will, hopefully, show the way to many developers, indie and professional."
Anyway, in the end we've decided to take a different route. We've opened a junk store. This way you get something for your money and we get some funds. I assume you know how such stores work. There is a base cost that goes to the store and a markup goes to us. The markup has been set at $5 dollars for all items with the exception of the big poster. You buy that poster, you give you $20, hence the patron name.
To be honest, I have no idea if this store is a good idea or a bad idea. I have no idea if someone would want to wear an AoD shirt or drink from an AoD mug. The posters and the calendar (check pictures for different months) might appeal to some people though. We have plenty of cool concept and in-game art and if it can help us gather some money while giving you something in return, then it's probably the best option.
We can only have one image per category, but if there is some interest, we can rotate art once a week or so. The in-game map with all the location looks pretty cool, that's for sure. Anyway, as usual, let us know what you think, and if you like or at least not against the idea, which products should we keep/add, which we should remove, and what kind of artwork would you prefer to see.
Thanks in advance.
http://www.cafepress.com/irontower
RPG
